Suspects charged in I-40 drug bust

Two suspects from California who were arrested after a traffic stop along Interstate 40 in Shawnee now face formal charges involving possession or distribution of marijuana.

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By Kim Morava

The Shawnee News-Star

By Kim Morava

Posted Jul. 19, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By Kim Morava
Posted Jul. 19, 2013 at 9:00 AM

Two suspects from California who were arrested after a traffic stop along Interstate 40 in Shawnee now face formal charges involving possession or distribution of marijuana.

The arrests occurred July 3 after a Shawnee police officer clocked a Nissan Maxima without license plates traveling 84 mph on the highway near Harrison Street, with a police dog then alerting to the presence of narcotics during the traffic stop.

Jerroll Lynn Richardson Jr., 35, San Francisco, is now charged in Pottawatomie County District Court with felony possession of controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of CDS.

Demario Ramon Holmes, 30, of San Francisco, Calif., is charged with the felony of possession of a firearm after former felony conviction. He's also charged with a misdemeanor of possession of controlled substance, records show.

Holmes, who was reportedly driving the vehicle the time of the traffic stop, has a suspended California driver license, police reports show. Holmes remained jailed in the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center Thursday, while Richardson was previously released after posting a $15,000 bond, jail records show.

Shawnee Police Chief Russell Frantz said he had a full crew of officers on duty July 3 so they were working enforcement in the safety corridor areas when the traffic stop occurred.

Along with finding nearly two pounds of marijuana in the vehicle, Frantz said $1,720 in cash was seized, along with a 9mm pistol. Officers seized the vehicle as well.

A child who was traveling with the duo was taken into protective custody and placed in the Hope House shelter until relatives could be located, the chief said.

According to Frantz, the preliminary investigation revealed the suspects were allegedly traveling back to California from Alabama, with information from the probe indicating they were "making runs back and forth," the chief said.

Next court dates for the defendants charged in this case haven't yet been scheduled.